"The Indians have attacked the pack-train!" was the cry. "They are coming up behind us. We are hemmed in on all sides!"
CHAPTER XXVIII
THE BATTLE OF BUSHY RUN
The report that the Indians had attacked the pack-train was true, and as soon as he learned of this, Colonel Bouquet ordered the advance guard to fall back to the support of the train.
"We must save our horses and our supplies!" was the cry, and back went regulars and rangers, in double-quick order, the Indians on either side of the road sending in a hot and galling fire as they retreated.
The pack-train was thoroughly disorganized, for the firing had frightened the horses, and they were plunging in all directions. As Dave, Rodney, and Barringford retreated in a bunch, one horse came tearing along the road and bumping against the charger ridden by one of the captains of the regulars, pitched the officer headlong to the ground.
"Look out, there!" cried Dave, for another horse was coming on also at a reckless speed. The steed was on the point of stamping on the fallen captain, when Dave caught him by the curb and swung him aside. At the same moment Rodney dragged the fallen captain in the opposite direction.
"I—I—thank you!" gasped the fallen officer, and with Rodney's aid he scrambled to his feet. "Very well done, sir!" he called out to Dave, and then ran to rejoin his men.
The Indians on the sides of the road had disappeared, and for a moment the troops had a breathing spell. But the enemy were only reloading their weapons, and now, with fierce war-whoops, they came out once more, and bullets and arrows flew thickly, killing officers, men, and horses. In the midst of the tumult some of the cattle broke loose and went galloping down the back road, directly into a band of approaching red men.
Covered with perspiration and dirt, Dave, Rodney, and the old frontiersman continued to use their rifles whenever an opportunity presented itself. The English were at a disadvantage, being not only in the roadway, but also on something of a hill, while the Indians kept to the shelter of the brushwood and the tall timber. Already a score of men had fallen and six horses were dead or disabled.